Theodor Mommsen
Mommsen, Theodor (1817–1903), a German historian and classical scholar. His History of Rome (3 volumes, 1854–56) was long popular in English translation. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature in 1902.
Mommsen was born in Schleswig, and received a Ph.D. degree from the University of Kiel in 1842. From 1844 to 1847 he was in France and Italy, collating manuscripts and inscriptions for the Berlin Academy. He was appointed professor of law at Leipzig University in 1848, but was dismissed two years later because of his liberal political views. As a Liberal member of the Prussian parliament, 1873–82, Mommsen opposed Bismarck's policies. He taught Roman law at the universities of Zurich and Breslau, and was professor of ancient history at the University of Berlin, 1858–1903.